Commentary] Reporting and Subjectivity Traps: A Brief Opinion Article on Consciousness as Belief

Abstract

We explore the notion that consciousness may be more of a belief than an empirically verifiable fact, shaped by the subjective nature of our experiences and the inherent limitations of reporting them. Contemporary science has yet to provide definitive proof of subjective experience beyond self-reports, which even sophisticated machines could mimic under specific conditions. Philosophical concepts such as phenomenological zombies—creatures identical to us but lacking consciousness—highlight the difficulty of distinguishing between actual conscious experience and mere behavioral reports. Current experimental designs often conflate metacognition (beliefs about perception) with consciousness, as seen in Higher-Order Thought theories and the Perceptual Reality Monitoring theory. These frameworks suggest that our sense of being conscious arises from metacognitive processes, potentially leading to cognitive biases. Studies involving disruptions to brain regions responsible for metacognitive accuracy further complicate our understanding of consciousness. Additionally, phenomena like delusional misidentification syndromes challenge the assumption of a coherent self that reliably perceives and reports reality. By questioning these assumptions, we propose that consciousness might be an elaborate belief system, a convenient construct for survival rather than an intrinsic quality of our being. This perspective urges a reconsideration of the fundamental nature of consciousness and our approach to studying it.